Five Minutes With... Sarah Rothe
We spend five minutes with jeweller Sarah Rothe to discuss the ideas and materials behind the new works in her exhibition Strength in Fragility and how they re-invigorated her love for making.
How would you describe your approach to designing and your methods of making?
The work in Strength in Fragility has been one of exploration through new methods and materials. Although still working in titanium, I have focused heavily on titanium shim. Paper thin titanium in 0.075mm thickness. It has offered a new way of manipulating and forming the metal I haven’t previously been able to achieve. Scoring, punching, cutting and forming the metal though a series of experiments and trials, still maintaining an organic feel, has allowed me to create even thinner coral and organic forms.
What is it about titanium that makes it your favoured material?
I was originally drawn to titanium for the unique way it colours with heat and anodising. But it also offers a whole range of characteristics unlike other metals. Titanium also has a range of challenges that require some extra forethought and planning. I really enjoy working around these constraints and finding different ways of working with the titanium.
Sarah Rothe, Untitled Brooch, 2019. Photo: Courtesy the artist.
Sarah Rothe, Unpredictable, they are a fortitude and a frailty neckpiece, 2019.
Photo: Courtesy the artist.
You have spoken previously of the organic fragments that your mother sends you through the mail. What treasures has she sent you recently and how have these been interpreted into wearable objects?
The latest finds were Blue Tiger Butterflies. These were a major inspiration in this exhibition. I have quite literally interpreted these into colourful titanium butterflies.
In what way has Strength in Fragility pushed your practice in new directions? Can you tell us about the ideas behind your work in this exhibition?
I went through quite a number of technical challenges with the work for this exhibition. It looks quite different to my initial thoughts and visualizations of how it would come together.
However, it has also forced me to investigate other ways of working with titanium. What was going to be a more minor feature in the work - titanium shim, is now the major component. It pushed me to experiment a lot with the material in a short amount of time, and includes mainly hand working and forming the metal into organic, coral and leaf like forms, while including some laser cutting (which also came with major challenges on such thin metal). I have treated this exhibition work as more experimental then I am used to working, but I am very excited to continue to experiment with paper thin titanium.
This exhibition has come at the perfect time, where it was able to pull me out of some personal challenges I have been going through. Strength in fragility has also proved the perfect title to embody more then just the work, and reflects on challenges of the past two years. It has reinvigorated my love of making and provided a sense of excitement in my creativity that I have not felt for a long time.
Strength in Fragility is showing at JamFactory, Adelaide in Gallery Two from 13 December 2019 - 9 February 2020.